Kalam downplays frisking incident in US

Kolkata, Nov 14 (IANS) Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who was frisked by the airport authorities in New York in September, violating international protocol, Monday downplayed the incident saying it was not worth talking about.

“Forget it… forget it… it is not worth talking,” said Kalam when asked to comment on the incident.

Kalam was in the city to participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of the Indian Institute of Management.

Eighty-year-old Kalam, who was in the US to attend a series of events, was returning home from the John F. Kennedy airport Sep 29 by an Air India flight when the airport authorities boarded the aircraft to check the coat and shoes of the former Indian president, who had already occupied his seat.

Kalam did not object and subjected himself to the security check.

The US was forced to tender an apology following strong protests by the ministry of external affairs which also sought a detailed report on the issue from its mission.

Subsequently, the US embassy in a statement said that it had “utmost respect” for the former president and “deeply regretted the inconvenience that resulted for him”.